Tehran Municipality Contractors Rally; Demanding Seven Years of Unpaid Wages
A group of contractors working for the Tehran Municipality gathered in front of the City Council building on Behesht Street.
According to reports published on social media, these contractors gathered on Tuesday, July 5th, to protest the non-payment of their wages dating back approximately seven years. Holding banners and chanting slogans in front of the Tehran City Council building, they demanded attention to their claims.
Based on this report, the contractors’ claims range from a minimum of 50 million tomans to a maximum of 8 billion tomans. By gathering in front of the City Council, these individuals sought to have their claims addressed, called for dialogue with City Council members, and requested an investigation into their situation.
One of the protesters stated that he has been claiming 200 million tomans from the municipality since 2016, adding that throughout this period he has only received between 5 to 6 million tomans in installments at long intervals.
Protest gatherings by employees, workers in production and service sectors, and retirees have intensified and continued in recent years following the persistent economic recession in Iran.
This is not the first time contractors from the municipality have staged protests. In late March of last year, a group of contractors working on development projects for the Sanandaj Municipality gathered in front of the City Council and Municipality buildings, holding placards to protest the non-payment of their overdue claims.
On Sunday, November 3rd, a number of retired steel workers also gathered in front of the Ministry of Cooperatives and Labor to protest unpaid overdue claims and demanded assurance of implementation of their healthcare benefits.
While protests by various groups continue, the number of economic corruption cases—some of which involve known officials and individuals—has also increased in Iran.
The United States has repeatedly condemned institutionalized financial corruption and the plundering of Iran’s natural resources by affiliates of the ruling regime, considering them among the main causes of Iran’s economic and financial problems. Recently, for instance, Mike Pompeo, the U.S. Secretary of State, tweeted about Islamic Republic officials, saying that instead of helping the people, they have been engaged in corruption.
Source: Voice of America
